THE FORTY THIEVES 201

the forest so far, that they were soon out of
sight. The robbers never gave themselves the
trouble to pursue them, being more concerned
to know who they belonged to. And while
some of them searched about the rock, the

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captain and the rest went directly to the door,
with their naked sabres in their hands ; and pro-
nouncing the proper words, it opened.

Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses’
feet from the middle of the cave, never doubted
of the arrival of the robbers, and his approaching
death; but was resolved to make one effort to